State Policy

State lawmakers play a major role in advancing the quality of Americans’ lives, from helping to protect the air we breathe and water we drink, to educating our children. By researching emerging topics and developing 50-state comparisons, Pew identifies innovative approaches states are using to help solve complex challenges. Pew also conducts extensive research and analysis to understand how states can better serve the public, and we work with states to develop data-driven, pragmatic solutions to issues such as children’s dental health, the growing costs of incarceration, the need for cost-effective, high-quality home visiting programs, public pensions, and making voting more accurate, convenient, and secure.

Recent Work

In March 2015, the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative partnered with the state of Alaska to further the state’s criminal justice reform efforts. This work will target evidence-based programs and recidivism-reduction grants by generating additional information to help guide policy decisions and ensuring that funded programs deliver the intended results. Read More

The decisions that state and local governments make today about how to invest their limited resources willdramatically shape our nation’s future. The Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative, a project of The PewCharitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, works with states and localitiesto develop the tools policymakers need to identify and fund effective programs... Read More

In June 2015, the state of Minnesota joined the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative to incorporate the Results First benefit-cost analysis model into its budget and policy processes. This partnership resulted from legislation signed in April 2015 that called for a benefit-cost analysis to evaluate state corrections and human services programs. Minnesota’s executive and legislative... Read More

About The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and invigorate civic life.

Trust Magazine

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